Dear Colleagues,
We are writing to confirm our current plans for hosting the IOS2022 conference in Greenville, SC, scheduled for March 13-15. Currently, we are staying with our plans to host a fully in-person conference. However, we are also closely monitoring the ongoing COVID-19 crisis.
Many of you may be waiting for more clarity on how the current Omicron variant will affect travel in March before determining whether or not to attend (and to submit an abstract!). Out of respect and concern for our colleagues who need more time to make these plans, we offer an extension of the IOS 2022 submission deadline until January 31, 2022.
For the sake of transparency, we have considered other options for the conference as well, including a hybrid or online conference. The hybrid version would require an investment that is beyond the IOS budget, and may result in neither the in-person nor the virtual components being up to your standards. A fully online conference would face many of the same challenges. It is for these reasons that we remain committed to a fully in-person event. However, we also feel that the best way to support our community is to allow more time for our colleagues to decide whether or not they will commit to travel, given the current unsettled public health situation.
We greatly appreciate your understanding and patience with the conference, which is now about three years in the making!
Best,
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IOS2022 Organizing Committee
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